Owl Magazine

SUMMER 2012

Summer Mix Picks P. 6

Crash Course in counterculture P. 12

Chasing the Checkered Flag: Inside NAscar P. 18

Flavor Cupcakery P. 22

Editors’ Notes Summer is the perfect time to take a trip or go on a journey: windows down, sun blazing, and the perfect soundtrack flowing as you face the open road.

But a journey doesn’t mean merely a physical one; it can also be the exploration of an idea or simply trying something new.

In 1964, Ken Kesey, author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, inspired by Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, decided to take a cross-country road trip with friends, The Merry Pranksters.

They bought a school bus, spattered it with color, set off, and made it a few miles before they ran out of gas. Not deterred, but in great spirits, they refueled and continued, adventurous and free, beginning the counterculture of the 60’s and idea of “hippies” and freedom as we’ve come to know it.

Kesey shares, “The notion of us being wild crazies wasn’t true. We weren’t long haired and we weren’t irresponsible.

There was an American sense, and that’s why we always wore red, white, blue, and flew the flag; it was to try and cool people out and say ‘Hey look, this may look strange to you, but get used to it. It’s American; without it, we’re a dead nation.”

Where would America today be without those groups of individuals who did decide to step away from society, those who broke out of the restraints that much of society puts on us? “…How do we break out of it? All you can do is experience this thing,” Kesey philosophizes.

So I encourage all of you to go on your own journey this summer: face the unknown, explore new ideas and locations, or step outside your comfort zone and discover something new.

And if you need a summer soundtrack, well, we’ve got that covered too!

Art Director: Brianna Breece Chief of Production: Stephanie Perkins Co-Editors in Chief: Nadia Kaczkowski and John Morin Business Manager: Rachel Mitchell Photography Editor: Joshua Eller Managing Editor: Matt Dippel Editorial Staff: Adam Bellamy, Shawn Gill, Imani Lewis Writing Staff: Nick Dement, McKenzie Edwards, Ashton Horne, Will Martin, Andrea Monaghan, Sharon Rice

Photography Staff: Diamond Dixon and Jennifer Lewis Design Staff: Danielle Frater and Brooke Basta Front Page/Live at HCC Photo: John Morin Chief Adviser: Claudia Brown Business Adviser: Joseph Cunningham Online Publisher: Tarah Wilson Print Publisher: Stockson Printing Company Owl Magazine is a student publication of Harford Community College.

If you are interested in joining the staff, email harfowl@harford.edu.

12

Crash Course in Counterculture:

Delve into the experiences that only the psychedelic hippie band Furthur and the risque Rocky Horror Picture Show reenactments can offer in this student’s first-hand adventure.

10

When Caring for Your Pets Takes a Back Seat:

Did you leave your best friend in the car?

What were you thinking?

Contents 6 Soundtrack for Lazy Days and Hazy Nights:

Make the perfect summer playlist for when you’re cruising down back roads as the sun sets in your rear view mirror.

7 Critics’ Corner:

Get into the summer state of mind with a review of Joe’s Crab Shack and The Magic Trip.

9 Screw ‘Success’:

Read the philosophical ramblings on success by two of the Owl’s resident introverts.

11 Student Spotlight:

Get to know your campus athletes with this spotlight piece on two of HCC’s lacrosse players.

17 Going for the Gold:

Take to the court with basketball to prepare yourself for this summer’s London Olympic games.

Beauty on a Budget:

21

Learn how to make stylish scarves out of materials you have lying around home.

18 Chasing the Checkered Flag:

Take a left turn to this spread for a NASCAR fan’s take on the world of racing.

20 Breaking the Habits of the College Routine: Stress from classes keeping you out of shape? Don’t sit; get fit!

22 It’s All About the Flavor:

Find out what connection HCC has with local Cupcake Wars winners, Flavor Cupcakery.

23 Live at HCC:

Find out what shows are happening this summer at HCC.

WRITERS PHOTOGRAPHERS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS SUMMER AND FALL OWL MAGAZINE STAFF n

Email Harfowl@harford.edu for information

5

Musical Diversity at the Baltimore Soundstage:

Discover one of Baltimore’s higher-end concert venues in this issue’s Night Out.

ht with ig r f f o r e t s e m Start your se

 Triple your memory in the first 20 minutes!  Improve your study skills through improving your memory!  Enhance your academic performance and experience.

Our goal is to make all materials and services accessible. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate, please contact College Life at 443-412-2373 at least ten calendar days in advance.

S ’ O WH ING

M O C

l na a r e d e F e r G A P n A to dit Uniuonity College CatrHearford Comm

Help us decide.

YOU want to see!

Tell us who

Acts are being booked for the new, 3,300-seat, state-of-the-art APG Federal Credit Union Arena at Harford Community College and

we want your input as to who you want to see.

Go to: www.harford.edu/arenasurvey Fill out the quick survey and stay tuned for updates and future ticket information.

NIGHT OUT

Musical DIVERSITY at the Baltimore Soundstage

By Nick Dement | Photography by Jennifer Lewis | Owl Staff Need a place to go on those dull, boring nights? The Baltimore Soundstage, found on Market Place near the Inner Harbor, is the newest addition to the local music scene and a great place to find new artists.

My experiences there have all been pleasant. The bar is open and, in the corners, there are neat U-shaped seats that sit as many friends as you care to try to fit. Also, the management is accommodating, and the people are as diverse as the music.

This was my third time at the Soundstage for their Battle of the Bands. There is no set interval or amount of Battles.

The last one was in April, but after that, there won’t be another until after September. Each time the music varies from rap to metal, ska to R&B, and even solo acoustic acts.

On my last trip, I saw the M.A.D. Rapper Project, Proven Eclectig, an instrumental jam band, and The Greek, which has a garage band sound.

The diversity is one of the better aspects of the Soundstage; you never know who is going to get behind the mic next. The diversity extends to the fans as well. There were high school kids, older couples, and families with children all enjoying the music.

All of these elements and ingredients create a sort of welcoming grab bag; nobody is excluded and everyone is invited.

Size-wise the venue itself is much larger than most in Baltimore, such as the Sidebar on East Lexington, and has a more extravagant lighting system.

For those who prefer smaller venues

and the intimacy that accompanies them, the Soundstage may not be satisfying. That said, the Soundstage is still a swell place to spend a night with friends and find new music.

“All of these elements and ingredients create a sort of welcoming grab bag; nobody is excluded and everybody is invited.”

The M.A.D. Rapper Project formed from the Baltimore hip hop band, BLOODSHOT.

5

MUSIC

Summer Songs:

Soundtrack for Lazy Days and Hazy Nights

By Matt Dippel | Owl Staff You’re driving down a back road on a July evening, your best friends piled into the passenger seats. It’s 85 degrees out, the sun is descending on the horizon and the moon is ascending to take its place. A light breeze rustles the tree tops and the background music provides the soundtrack for your summertime shenanigans.

Every summer, I make a huge playlist consisting of a few hundred songs for the season, which then remains on shuffle for the next three months. I can’t fit the whole playlist on one page, but I can recommend a handful of albums to help turn those lazy days into hazy nights with the best soundtrack possible.

Beach House - Bloom Baltimore based dream pop duo Beach House make some of the most tranquil music I’ve ever heard, combining the effects-drenched tendencies of shoegaze with ethereal piano melodies; this is star gazing music at its finest.

The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band The de facto summer soundtrack for anyone with a youth based in the 1960’s, Sgt. Pepper’s is just under 40 minutes of LSD laced psychedelic rock that will take you to another world. It’s one of the greatest albums ever recorded, and resonates with people still today.

Explosions In The Sky - The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place Another album for nights spent driving down back roads with friends, EITS craft some of the best instrumental post rock in the game, and this album is the one to put on in the background while talking. The band crafts their eight to ten minute long movements with the concept of build ups and climaxes in mind, creating some of the most epic “background noise” ever.

Vampire Weekend Self-Titled Everyone knows “APunk” from the movie Step Brothers, but the band’s self titled debut has ten other equally catchy indiepop tunes with pristine production and a warm summer feel.

6

At the Drive In - Relationship of Command A slightly heavier pick, this seminal post-hardcore classic is the album to spin when cruising down I-95 with all the windows down, screaming along with every lyric and chorus. One of the most energetic and vibrant albums I’ve ever been privy to.

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) ...And a rap album for diversity; you just can’t beat 36 Chambers. So turn off that terrible R&B station and listen to some real hip hop, for your own good.

Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea Listen to the title track and “Holland, 1945.”

Seriously. Just do it.

CRITICS’ CORNER

Peace, Love, and Crabs in Maryland Article and Photography by Will Martin | Owl Staff Before you start planning vacations this summer, you can have an early taste of the seaside! Located in Abingdon, Joe’s Crab Shack has existed long before coming to the neighborhood, but continues to serve great seafood and service whilst proudly displaying their motto on employees’ shirts: “Peace, Love & Crabs.”

Joe’s maintains a warm, laid-back yet exciting environment reminiscent of an afternoon on a boardwalk or an evening spent overseeing the ocean on a beachfront pier. The restaurant is divided into three eating areas large enough for celebrations and gettogethers. One is an open-air outdoor patio while the indoor areas are decorated simplistically but should feel comfortable to beachgoers.

The menu is simple but savory; I most recently enjoyed one of Joe’s delicious signature Steampot entrées, snow crab clusters flavored with traditional Old Bay seasoning. The

dish also includes one-pound clams, smoked sausage and a fresh, Old Bay-laden ear of corn. Other dishes include everything from chowder and shellfish to burgers, fish combo platters, and the occasional steak almost all at prices ranging from $9.99 to $29.99.

Beyond dining, the chain obviously

cares very much about entertaining a younger audience. There is a tiny gift shop just past the front door selling a variety of t-shirts licensed under the restaurant brand, and a playground setup out back. So if you feel like a family night out with the look and feel of a far-off vacation spot, Joe’s Crab Shack is just the place.

Joe’s Crab Shack, near Wegmans in Abingdon, has a fun atmosphere to compliment their crabs and seafood.

Road Trippin’, Music Playin’, Life Livin’ Adventure

By John Morin | Owl Staff Through a kaleidoscope of colors, original documentary footage, and voice-over commentary, The Magic Trip thusts the viewer into the world of the cross-country roadtrip that defined a generation.

Ken Kesey, best known for such critically-acclaimed works as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, leads a ragtag group of individuals on a quest of self-discovery and enlightenment.

The trip began at a time when there was a feeling of a loss of innocence, especially after the assassination of President Kennedy. Kesey hoped to experience and see what was real in life by traveling through America’s

“landscape and heartscape.”

What follows is a rollicking, drugriddled, poignant look at society’s expectations and the human experience.

Aside from an array of colorful anecdotes—including an LSD-fueled swamp march and a member being put under psychiatric surveillance—the film also points out some interesting historical facts, such as the CIA’s active role in recruiting individuals for LSD experiments.

Be provoked, be inspired, and have fun aboard the bus Further (a.k.a. Furthur) with this “eccentric, multicolored circus.”

The Magic Trip uses original footage to follow Ken Kesey, author of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” on a very 1960’s roadtrip.

7

College Life Welcomes HCC’s Student Veterans Welcome Back Student Veterans Social Friday, September 21, 2012 ~ 5 PM, Globe Patio RSVP: 443-412-2628 or egisriel@harford.edu

Military Appreciation Day

Tuesday, October 2, 2012 ~ Edgewood Hall

Veteran Study/Meeting Space

Drop in anytime! Located on Lower Level of the Student Center

Student Veterans Club

Interested? Sign up in College Life Office.

Special Notice: The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Mobile Service Office will have staff available on campus on Thursday, June 7, 2012 ~ Look for their mobile office in either W lot (across from Wa Wa) or the T Lot by the Susquehanna Hall construction Our goal is to make all materials and services accessible. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate, please contact College Life at 443-412-2373 at least ten calendar days in advance. Programs, unless otherwise noted, are offered for HCCregistered credit students as those students pay a consolidated service fee.

Attend school in Harford County?

Apply today.

Free: Checking • Online Banking • Online Bill Pay Loans: Mortgage • Auto • Visa • Home Equities Home Improvement

SATURDAY HOURS May 12 & 19 1-4 p.m.

Call. Click. Come in.

410-272-4000 APGFCU.com 10 local branches Federally insured by NCUA

Your Local Choice

VOICES

Screw ‘Success’

A

By Shawn Gill and Nadia Kaczkowski | Owl Staff

t what point does one realize the dream of attaining extraordinary wealth and having more twitter followers than Lady GaGa is probably not going to happen? While most will come to this realization and, presumably, still live happy lives, the pressure to achieve “success” – defined by the MerriamWebster Dictionary’s definition as “attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence” - pervades American culture.

Media images of wealth, fame, and power bombard this society, and many are consuming it up; but Hermann Hesse, a poet, painter, and novelist once posed the question, “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the

whole world and lose his soul?”

This is the point of writing today; it is a crusade against success. Screw success; there is something noble about living your life not consumed by material possessions. To me, it’s all about being happy, truly and simply happy, that constitutes a successful life.

Call this old fashioned, but that song

by Montgomery Gentry, “Something to be Proud of” is a sort of mantra that many can live by: “Like a small town flag a-flyin’ Or a newborn baby cryin’ In the arms of the woman that you love, That’s something to be proud of.”

It says, living life where you are, not taking any day for granted, and enjoying the company of your loved

ones is the definition of a successful life; it is a life you can be proud of.

Inspirational lecturer, writer and mythologist, Joseph Campbell, shares

“There is something noble about living your life not consumed by material possessions.” in Myths to Live By that for some, “seeking the meaning of life” may be of help, “but it really only helps the intellect,” not the spirit.

Do not live consumed in ideals, words, definitions, and “what ifs”; follow the genuine nature of your soul.

Roving Reporter

“Who is the most successful person you know?”

By Sharon Rice & Imani Lewis | Photography by Joshua Eller | Owl Staff

Jonny Struble, Business Administration

Angelina Comando, Mass Communications

Justin McDowell, Mass Communications

Matt Erins, General Studies

“Kevin Hert, member of my church, Trinity Church of Baltimore, a stockbroker and a millionaire. He uses his time to coordinate events for the youth at Trinity Church of Baltimore.

“My Mass Comm teachers – They do what they love and they are active in their field, as well.”

“My pastor. He is a great example to the young men in his community concerning how to behave. He is very successful financially, as well.

“My father. Thirty years ago, he was working for $1.20/hour and now he is working as the president of his company. He’s worked his butt off and has relied on himself for every single dollar he has earned.”

9

VOICES

When caring for Your pets takes a back seat

By Stephanie Perkins | Photography by John Morin | Owl Staff For just about all of us who watch too much television, especially late at night, we’ve seen the commercial about donating to the SPCA. For those who haven’t, it’s basically a sad song set to pictures of rescued animals that have been abused. While many of the portrayed animals have been beaten, malnourished, and overall neglected, there are other ways people mistreat their pets that are not necessarily considered abuse.

You know that really cute Border Collie puppy you saw? Unless you’re a very experienced dog owner, you will have a hard time training this dog among others according to trainpetdog.com. Many animals, while they may be cute, have different needs from breed to breed.

Once that puppy grows up, it’s not going to have enough room to exercise and let out its natural energy if

you’re living in an apartment. Domesticated animals that don’t have the tools to let out their energy, whether it’s a scratching post or an active owner, can develop behavioral problems that will destroy your property and sanity. For the sake of all animals, please do your research before bringing a pet home and realizing you cannot take care of it.

Socialites love dressing up their dog like it’s a large, furry Barbie.

While this isn’t necessarily abuse, it isn’t right for most animals. I say most because if you have a small or hairless pet, it will need to be dressed for extreme weather to prevent sickness, including skin conditions.

Otherwise, please don’t dress up your pet. It is possible that animals wearing clothes can have allergic reactions to the fabrics or enough friction from the clothes rubbing up against

On a hot summer day, a car can reach temperatures of 120 degrees where dogs can easily die from heat stroke in only twenty minutes.

10

“Every animal deserves to be treated with decency.” their skin to cause irritation. Also, if the animal has to adjust the way they naturally walk while wearing outfits, over time, they can develop hip or back injuries.

When driving out to my favorite restaurant, I’m not thinking to bring my dog along so she can stay in the car while I stuff my face. Unfortunately, I have seen this happen. When I worked at a restaurant, I was coming onto my shift when I realized there was a dog barking inside of a car. I was able to keep an eye on the dog from my counter, and its owners didn’t return to the car until an hour and a half after I arrived.

If you need to leave your house and do things like go grocery shopping or to a doctor’s appointment, your pet is usually better off at home. While some argue that they don’t want to leave them alone, at least when they are in the house it is a familiar, climate-controlled environment.

These sorts of things happen all the time. You don’t have to buy your pet expensive food or schedule them an acupuncture appointment, but every animal deserves to be treated with decency.

As a general rule of thumb, treat any of your pets like your best friend.

You wouldn’t leave your best friend locked inside of your car while you go shopping, would you?

COMMUNITY

Student Spotlight

By Adam Bellamy | Photography by Joshua Eller | Owl Staff

From life to lacrosse: A student - Athlete’s Experience A student-athlete who loves to hunt and fish in what little free time he has, Ryan Cummings has supplanted himself as a key defender on HCC’s men’s lacrosse team in just two seasons. Simultaneously juggling school, work, and athletics may be intimidating to some, but Cummings admits it is very much a risk and reward system.

When asked about the added pressure, he states, “Playing a sport has helped me connect more with the school and use my time more effectively.” Constantly run-

ning around campus has allowed him to take advantage of the library and meeting with professors.

Cummings’ work ethic comes as no surprise after learning the best advice he has received from his coaches: “When the going gets tough, as long as you work hard and give it your best, you can’t fail.”

This inspirational message is one that he will carry with him as he plans on continuing his academic and athletic careers at Mount Olive College.

To Ryan Cummings, pressure, risk, and reward are all a part of being on the team.

Sticks and School: A Balancing Act

Finding a balance between academics and a social life can be difficult, but Maddie Hewitt handles it with ease.

Freshman Maddie Hewitt is one of the newest additions to the Women’s Lacrosse team here at HCC, but make no mistake about it, she knows her way around a field. In her senior year at Havre de Grace High School, she was named Athlete of the Year, something she attributes to her teammates.

“Playing on a team with girls so much older than me gave me someone to look up to. When I scored my first goal they were all so excited for me and my whole family was there too,” she exclaims.

But even she went on to admit that is not an easy accomplishment.

“Women’s lacrosse, as well

as men’s, takes coordination, strength, endurance, quick thinking, and teamwork.” That’s on top of the schoolwork that she needs to keep up with-something that she feels is key for students looking to join any team.

“School needs to come first, that’s ultimately why you’re here.”

And that’s an idea that Hewitt contemplates as she thinks about balancing her academic and athletic careers.

“I would love to play after Harford; unfortunately, I’m not too sure if I can. Once I transfer, my education will probably have to take up most of my time.”

11

12

O

ne might think the life of a writer isn’t exciting; and they’d be right, if that life consisted of merely writing instruction manuals for assembling a 3,000 piece toy or commercial jingles for adult diapers (unless, of course, that’s where your passion lies). But a writer must always be open to new experiences and willing to step outside his comfort zone. So when I was given the chance to write about some activities that take place outside of the mainstream, I jumped at the chance!

CONTINUED

13

“A

“Are you sure I can’t dress you up?” my friend Stephanie asked one more time, sounding a little too eager.

We were preparing to leave for the Rocky Horror Picture Show revival, an entertainment staple for Rocky Horror buffs held every Saturday at midnight at a cinema in Newark, Delaware. The movie was released in 1975, and ever since, people have been attending time again the “Late Night, Double Feature Picture Show.”

I told her no, I was sure. Call me uptight, but I’m the kind of person who thinks wearing a skirt would be more awkward than amusing. And besides, I was going to church in the morning.

Stephanie shrugged and then headed downstairs to get ready. While she was digging in the recesses of her room for an appropriate outfit, I met the other people who would be going with us. There was Stephanie’s boyfriend at the time, Neil, her brother Andrew and his girlfriend Lisa, as well as two of her friends, Duncan and Mikey. None of them were wearing skirts.

“So you’re Steph’s virgin, huh?”

Andrew asked, smiling. In this instance, a virgin is someone who has not had the pleasure of attending a Rocky Horror revival show. As such, there is a ritualistic sacrifice in which

the virgin will have to do some odd or deviant task before the show begins.

Or more likely, they are the opening of the show. My face started to redden as they shared some real horror stories.

About that time, Stephanie slinked back up the steps; an amazing feat in such high heels. She also had on fishnet stockings, a plaid mini-skirt even Britney Spears would find short, a white button-down revealing a black and red bra, and fire engine red lips.

When we left the house, lightning flashed and rain pounded the streets.

Along the way we picked up another friend, Juliette, lost Duncan who we were sure was following us, and nearly hydroplaned. But we made it in good time, and already there were people lining up outside. Some were dressed as casually as I was. One guy had on a skirt and a pink corset, an amusing sight when paired with his rather bored expression.

After paying for our tickets, we stood in the lobby as a guy walked around yelling: “Where are the virgins?” The virgins received a “V” in red lipstick on their forehead, marked for certain humiliation. I looked away, whistling to myself.

“Where’s your ‘V’?” Andrew asked.

I told him that I’d just prefer to watch.

He handed me a white paper bag and said, “Here, take a prop bag. It’ll make it look more like you’ve been here before.”

As promised, the show began with the virgin sacrifices. Two guys had to share a Twizzler and meet in the middle for a kiss. Duncan gave his interpretation of a Steven Erkel orgasm. At the end, everyone in the audience lined up in the aisle, legs spread. When two virgins crawled through, everyone had to smack their butt.

The whole show was about participation. Imagine having your closest friends over and everyone is making obscene and wise-aleck comments while the movie plays. Oh, and there are live performers below the screen loosely reenacting what is going on in the movie. One guy behind us would shout things like “Riff-Raff can’t hold his liquor,” right before that character drops a bottle of alcohol.

We also used the props in the white paper bag: a piece of newspaper to put on our heads during a rainy scene, playing cards when they’re mentioned in a song, and toast for when Frank-N-Furter proposes a “toast.” Real cute. We also moved our arms back and forth in time with the movie characters’ wind shield wipers. Halfway through there was an “underwear run,” during which I discovered one of Stephanie’s friends had fishnet stockings under his pants.

What happens at Rocky Horror, stays at Rocky Horror.

“S

hrooms and opiates...shrooms and opiates...”

We had barely stepped out of the car and into the muggy heat when the man walked buy, muttering those words under his breath, trying to make a sell.

The Furthur concert was being held at the Mann Center of Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; a much different venue than the 8X10 Room and other local bars I was used to.

Formed in 2009 by surviving Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, Furthur definitely catered to a different sort of crowd. I couldn’t help but feel I had stepped back in time to the 1960s when the Grateful Dead first began their career. Outside the amphitheater area, the streets were crammed with stalls selling hemp necklaces, bongs, and Grateful Dead memorabilia. And, of course, tie-dye was everywhere!

Concert-goers swarmed down the roads. Men for the most part went shirtless and either had dreadlocks or fairly long hair.

Wo m e n w o r e peasant skirts or bikini tops and cut-off shorts.

My friend Nadia and I roamed through parked cars baking in the sun and groups of people stretched out on the grass in the shade. Some were hulahooping, others smoking, and some just sitting around talking or playing music.

I noticed several people were walking around with green balloons, occasionally sucking from them. The contents turned out to be nitrous oxide, and more than once a group of cops would find a contraband nitrous oxide tank and empty it in the street. It would hiss like a snake, its body frosting over.

The crowds gathered as it was about to begin, bottlenecking at the entrance. Heat, sweat and body odor permeated the crowd; that and a fair dose of excitement.

The man in front of me brushed his hand over his buzz cut, droplets of sweat spraying into the air.

Once inside, we passed a stall selling drinks; alcoholic and non. The crowd broke free and covered the hillside,

laying out blankets and going barefoot.

The band took to the stage under a covered pavilion, and Nadia and I watched from the top of the hill. The first set included “High on a Mountain,” “When I Paint My Masterpiece,” and “Reuben and Cherise.”

Everyone was swaying, dancing, smoking, laughing and talking with fellow audiencegoers—strangers—as if they’d known each other for years. When they played “Man Smart (Women Smarter),” two middle-aged women began to dance with Nadia, throwing me a meaningful look whenever they chanted “That’s right/ The women are smarter/ The women are smarter/ That’s right!”

The musicianship and performance was phenomenal, as expected. For the encore we walked to the covered pavilion onto a balcony that overlooked the stage. They covered Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain” and then ended with “One More Saturday Night”—a rousing finish to an already exciting day. Multicolored lights flashing and sweeping the pavilion seemed to make Bob Weir’s white hair glow wildly.

The experience was mainly shaped by the energy of the night—between the band, the music, and the people. There was an excitement and a joy that rippled through the crowd and multiplied whenever someone sang back the chorus to a song or danced their heart out.

Nadia put it best when she described the day as everyone “having a genuinely great time [and] watching everyone else do likewise is a pretty unifying and freeing feeling.

Sometimes, I want to experience that for days and days and days. Despite the heat, the music and crowd were enjoyably and wonderfully on. Everyone got way into it, down deep, they felt it. I felt it; did you feel it?”

And you know what? I did.

n retrospect, however, neither experience was as crazy as I thought it would be. Everyone was very nice and it was interesting to see life from different perspectives. If anything, it made me reevaluate how I view people who do not share my personal tastes or beliefs. It’s also given me more confidence to try new things—a requisite for intrepid reporters who live on the edge!

15

READY TOTRANSFER

Complete your degree at

STEVENSON UNIVERSITY

Scholarships up to $16,000 annually Career-focused programs & a 96% job placement rate Small classes and individual attention Transfer students account for one-third of Stevenson’s student body. From admissions to academics, SU is dedicated to serving students like you.

Schedule a visit today at 410-486-7001

www.stevenson.edu

100 Campus Circle, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117

Thanks for the feedback!

Earn Your Degree Faster!

2012 SUMMER SESSIONS

May 29 - June 29

May 29 - August 3

June 11 - August 3

July 2 - August 3

1st 5-week session 8-week session

Yellow Ribbon Participant

10-week session

2nd 5-week session

Call 443-412-2000 to register.

THE POWER TO MAKE YOUR SUMMER COUNT Achieve more. Choose Harford. | www.harford.edu 12-0347

Thanks to everyone who responded to our Spring 2012 Library Customer Satisfaction Survey.

116 N. Washington Street • Havre de Grace, MD 21078 410.939.6424 • www.hdgartists.com We Carry Drafting Supplies, Studio Furniture, How-to Art Books & All Your Favorite Fine Art Brands

~ HCC Librarians

We offer great Special Events, Art Classes & Workshops for Children & Adults Holbein • Winsor & Newton • Golden Acrylics Sennelier • Robert Simmons • Prismacolor Arches • Gemini • Ampersand • Strathmore Fredrix • Stratford & York • Speedball M. Graham • Aqua-Resin & Much More!

We value your input.

Shelby Store Manager & Greeter

SPORTS

Going for the Gold:

Is This Year’s Roster the New Olympic Dream Team?

What sport will you be watching?

Archery Athletics Badminton Basketball Beach Volleyball Boxing Canoe Slalom Canoe Sprint Cycling – BMX Cycling – Mountain Bike Cycling – Road Cycling – Track Diving Equestrian – Dressage Equestrian – Eventing Equestrian – Jumping Fencing Football Gymnastics – Artistic Gymnastics – Rhythmic Gymnastics – Trampoline Handball Hockey Judo Modern Pentathlon Rowing Sailing Shooting Swimming Synchronized Swimming Table Tennis Taekwondo Tennis Triathlon Volleyball Water Polo Weightlifting Wrestling

By Ashton Horne | Photography by Joshua Eller | Owl Staff If you have never watched Olympic basketball before, then this is the year to tune in. Since the early 1900s, America’s basketball teams have made their dominance known on the court. For the longest time, it was traditional that only amateurs play; but in 1989, the rules were changed so the U.S. could field players from the NBA. This change led to the assembly of the 1992 “Dream Team,” arguably the most dominant team of all time in basketball.

You might have heard of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Larry Bird, just a few of the greatest basketball icons to ever play.

Larry Bird has said, “Once you are labeled the best, you want to stay up there, and you can’t do it by loafing around. If I don’t keep changing, I’m history.”

Determination is what set the Dream Team apart from the rest that year. Everyone on that team had the most important characteristic in basketball: heart.

Now let’s skip to current day and view our roster. Team USA is coming off a 2008 gold medal campaign and looking to nab another one. With who, you ask? Well, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, and Kevin Durant are a handful of the superstars we have to make this a possibility.

One might ask how twelve players

develop chemistry after only two weeks together, especially when they compete against one another during the regular and playoff seasons. The answer is simple: camaraderie.

Of course, camaraderie is only a word, but it is also a key component when teams are striving to reach a common goal.

Head coach of the men’s basketball team for the 2012 Olympics, Mike Krzyzewski, one said, “A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. That’s how I want you to play.”

This year, team USA’s roster is going to be the most talented since the Dream Team.

All of the players mentioned above bring ambition, talent, and dedication to the court every time. Competition for our country will be none, and you can quote me.

Watching the Olympics gives you a proud feeling of how far we’ve come with the sport of basketball and how game diversity continues. The USA’s basketball team has won a medal every time they have been to the games and still hold the record amount of gold medals. When you have the time this summer, be sure to catch our remarkable team in London from July 28 through August 12.

are you most looking forward ROVING REPORTER: What to in the upcoming Summer Olympics?

Shelby Aey Major: Criminal Justice

Linda Scott Major: Nursing

Evan Aki Major: Business Administration

Faith Frankenhauser Major: Elementary Education

“Seeing the USA Basketball Team win Gold.”

“I love gymnastics so that’s what I look forward to the most.”

“The Track and Field events because I run Track myself.”

“Gymnastics and Swimming definitely. Especially swimming since Michael Phelps is from Maryland.”

17

SPORTS

Chasing the Checkered Flag:

Inside the High-Octane World of NASCAR Article and Photography by Joshua Eller | Owl Staff

Young fans look on as the five car of Mark Martin passes by during the 2009 AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway.

In Florida, there is a beach unlike any other. Here you can walk in the footsteps of legends and if you listen closely, you can almost hear the roar from the crowd of fans as forty-three cars race off into the turns. It’s a place called Daytona, and it was here that NASCAR was born.

Founded in 1948, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is the second most watched sport in the country according to scenedaily.com.

NASCAR currently governs eleven series and sanctions more than 1500 races a year. Not bad for a sport that developed around bootleggers running moonshine during Prohibition.

From Daytona in February to Homestead, Miami in November, many fans cheer on their favorite driver while watching the races on TV. Still nothing compares to seeing a race in person. During race week a track can take on the appearance of a small city as thousands descend on them with some even camping there for most of the week.

Many people ask, “How can you stand to sit there and watch people drive around in circles for hours.”

It’s not just driving around in circles, it’s watching as forty-three drivers race inches apart at speeds close to two hundred miles per hour as differ-

ent strategies can lead to heartbreak like Mark Martin losing the Daytona 500 for a twenty-third time by just a couple of inches; or triumph like legendary Wood Brothers Racing and Rookie Trevor Bayne winning the Daytona 500 in just his third career start.

HCC student David Bush says, “I always thought the races looked boring on TV. But then I attended a race at Dover. It’s a completely different atmosphere to see it in person. It’s amazing to see the excitement as forty-three cars fly by at two-hundred mph.”

Today the slightest error on the

“Mountain Climbing, Bull Fighting, and Auto Racing are the only real sports… all others are just games.”

- Ernest Hemmingway 18

SPORTS

racetrack can have disastrous consequences. It can lead to terrible crashes like Joey Logano’s car flipping seven times at Dover in 2009. Due to the safety of the cars, like in most wrecks today, Logano was able to walk away uninjured but still a driver is sometimes injured.

In the 1980s Ricky Rudd crashed at Daytona, cracking ribs and bruising his eyes so bad they were swollen shut. Instead of sitting out, Rudd duct taped his eyes open and raced in the Daytona 500 and a week later won at Richmond.

Last August, Brad Keselowski broke his left ankle in a crash and four days later won at Pocono Raceway.

While NASCAR’s top three series have not had a fatality since the death of Dale Earnhardt in the 2001 Daytona 500; sadly for racing this is not always the case. On October 16 2011, Indycar driver Dan Wheldon was killed in a In under sixteen seconds, a pit crew can change four tires crash while racing at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. and add eighteen gallons of gas to a car during a typical pit stop.

Tragedy impacts the whole racing community and yet a week later NASCAR drivers strapped back into their cars.

Carl Edwards puts it best when he says, “When you get in a racecar you don’t think about that stuff, at least I don’t.

In 1953, Tim Flock Everyone prepares for the worst. When you get out there drove eight races with to race, you just go race.”

Ernest Hemmingway once said, “Mountain Climbing, a Rhesus monkey as a Bull Fighting, and Auto Racing are the only real sports… passenger in his car. all others are just games.”

But for the race teams and the millions of fans that watch them, racing is more than just a sport. For them, racing is a way of life.

More than eighty-three thousand fans attended the May 2011 race weekend at Dover International Speedway.

19

FITNESS

Don’t Sit; Get Fit!

Breaking the Habits of the College Routine

By McKenzie Edwards | Photography by Joshua Eller | Owl Staff

W

ho doesn’t know the college routine? Come to class, keep up with assignments, work part- or fulltime, sleep when you can, and eat whatever is available. But it’s our unhealthy habits that stick with (and to) us, even after the semester ends. In a nationwide study, the American College Health Association found that “three out of 10 college students are overweight or obese.”

Around our campus, however,

Legs: Walk or Run Combine cardio with leg muscle movement to work your heart, tone your legs, and burn plenty of calories.

Start slow at an easy pace for 15 minutes at a time, gradually building up your endurance.

20

many students are fighting off those freshmen 15.

“Yogurt and whole grains,” says Katie Maslanka. “Oh, and yoga— it’s one of the most fun exercises I’ve tried.” She’s tried lots of them, too: besides visiting the gym when she can, she’s run her share of 5Ks. If getting to the gym is impossible, get creative! Andrew McKinley played sports in high school, but since school started he’s had to improvise: “Park as far away from your classes as possible, then walk

Abs: Bicycle Crunches Lie on the floor with your back flat on the ground, placing your hands behind your head for support. Bring your knees up and slowly move them similar to the way you would pedal a bike. Alternate touching your elbow to your opposite knee, but don’t pull on your neck. Repeat four times in sets of twenty.

as fast as you can to them. It’ll get your heart pumping.”

“If you have a dog and an iPod there’s no excuse [for not walking],” says Candice Scott.

And the simplest advice on campus? “Don’t sit, get fit,” says another student.

If only we had a handbook with these kinds of tips. For now, just remember: If it looks unhealthy, it probably is. Make time for a healthy dose of exercise, too.

Your body will thank you for it!

Arms: Triceps Kickback Holding a 5 -10 pound weight with both hands, stand upright with your knees bent slightly (to prevent back strain). Raise the weight over your head. Keep your arms close to your ears, and inhale as you lower your elbows to a 90-degree angle. Exhale as you return to starting position.

Repeat three times in sets of fifteen.

FASHION

Beauty on a Budget

Wrapped up in Style: Do-It-Yourself Scarf

By Andrea Monaghan | Photography by Diamond Dixon | Owl Staff Scarves are ‘in’ right now as far as fashion goes, but they can get pretty pricey. At Macy’s, they start at $14.95 and go upwards to $95.00. Now you can make your own for basically no cost! All you need is an old T-shirt of any color or pattern and a pair of scissors.

Here are the step-by-step directions to make your own scarf:

1

2

Cut the bottom seam off of the shirt.

Cut the rest of the shirt into strips, but make sure they are still loops when you cut them. It probably would not be good to go any bigger than 1 inch or smaller than a ½ inch. It depends on your style; if you want more loops then cut smaller strips.

5 Gather all of the loops with the knots at one end, but not all in the same spot, and grab the strip you set aside and cut that one too.

6 Take the loop you just cut and wrap it around the other loops so that it hides the knots and tuck the tail of the loop under the wrapping.

3

4

Gather the loops and stretch them so the fabric curls on itself then set one loop aside.

Cut the loops at one end and tie them so they are all different lengths. Group them by size.

There you have it; your own homemade scarf!

21

BEYOND CAMPUS

All About the Article and Photography by John Morin | Owl Staff Chocolate-filled Macaroon. Red Velvet. Raspberry Cream Brulee.

Mouth watering yet?

These are just a few of the delicious cupcake varieties that have made Flavor Cupcakery in Bel Air the go-to bakery when you’re in the mood to indulge your sweet tooth or cater an event.

“I always wanted a shop of some sort, to be around pretty things,” Shelley Stannard explains. “And, as a mother in the community, I real-

ized we didn’t have a high-end baked good. So I kind of put those two things together and at that point I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this is something I have to do!’”

Jason Hisley, a certified pastry culinarian working in Baltimore, heard about the opening in his home town and decided to check it out himself.

“When I tried the product, I knew it was a really, really amazing cupcake,” Hisley says. “These were trained pastry chefs, not just home bakers who wanted to profit off of a cupcake craze. This was a place that was going to stay around.”

Together they made a dynamic team, and it wasn’t long before the Food Network called about recruiting them for Cupcake Wars. As part of the process, they were required to create

For this particular Cupcake Wars episode, contestants had to battle it out in three rounds, mixing together ingredients and embellishments to capture the whimsy of the New York City Ballet’s Nutcracker.

Hisley and Stannard triumphed in the final round, baking and decorating one thousand cupcakes for the opening of the Nutcracker at the Lincoln Center in New York. Since being crowned Season 4 Winners, business has been booming and the two have become something of local celebrities.

“It’s true,” Hisley laughs. “I get stopped sometimes at stores, sign autographs, or take pictures with kids and stuff. But it’s cool. It’s really great when someone from your local community goes and does something and then brings that back to the community.”

And Flavor Cupcakery doesn’t appear to be losing any momentum either. On April 12, Hisley made yet

“These were trained pastry chefs, not just home bakers who wanted to profit off of a cupcake craze.

This was a place that was going to stay around.” an audition video and sought help from two HCC film students, Everett Glovier and Zach Myers.

“They were awesome!” Stannard gushes.

“They came over and helped pull the video together which was great... We would have floundered.”

22

With ten regular flavors and many specialty cupcakes made daily, Flavor Cupcakery is the perfect place to indulge your sweet tooth.

another televised appearance, this time on Sweet Genius. Although he didn’t win, he was one of the last two remaining contestants. They also opened a second location in Cockeysville on April 17.

“We get calls from far and wide, people saying, “Oh my gosh, we have nothing like this where I live. Will you come to my area?’” Stannard says.

“We’re like, ‘Yeah, of course we want to come help you out!’”

Bel Air Community Band Sunday, May 6 at 3 p.m.

Bel Air High School Free Admission

Applied Music Students in Recital Wednesday, May 9 at 7 p.m.

Joppa Hall, Recital Hall #1 General Admission: Adult $5, Youth (17 and Younger) $1, HCC Students Free

An Evening of Jazz: Second Shift & HCC Jazz Ensemble Friday, May 11 at 8 p.m.

Joppa Hall, Recital Hall #1 General Seating: Adult $5, Youth $1, HCC Students Free

An Evening of Chamber Music Monday, May 14 at 7 p.m.

Joppa Hall, Recital Hall #1 General Admission: Adult $5, Youth $1, HCC Students Free

Robin Hood Friday, May 18 and Sat, May 19 at 5:30 & 8 p.m.

Chesapeake Theater Assigned Seating: Adult $10, Youth $8

4:48 Psychosis

Hello, Dolly!

Gallery Exhibition

Friday, June 1 & 8; Sat, June 2 & 9 at 8 p.m.

Black Box Theatre- Joppa Hall Room 032 General Seating: Adult $10, Youth $5, Senior (60+) $5, HCC Students $5

Friday, June 8 & 15 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 9 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, June 10 at 3 p.m.; Saturday, June 16 at 3 & 8 p.m.

Chesapeake Theater Assigned Seating: Adult $20, Youth $10, Senior (3 p.m. matinee only) $10, HCC Students $10

June 4- Sept 14 Reception: Sept 12 at 5:30 p.m.

Chesapeake Gallery, Student Center Free Admission

Canvases 2012 Saturday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Amoss Center Assigned Seating: Premier (All Ages) $15, Orchestra/Terrace (Adult) $12, Orchestra/ Terrace (Youth) $8

Grease Friday, Sept 7 & 14 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept 8 & 15 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Sept 9 and 16 at 3 p.m.

Chesapeake Theater Reserved Seating: Adult $20, Youth $10, HCC Student $10, Senior (3 p.m. matinees only) $10

Gallery Exhibition Sept 27- Nov 6 Reception: Oct 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Student Center, Chesapeake Gallery Free Admission

HCC Adult Student Orientation Saturday, August 25, 2012 - 8:30 AM to 12 PM Student Center, Room 243

Scan to see a video of why one student was glad she attended the Adult Student Orientation

“I

was so anxious, and now I am so at ease, and confident in my decision to go back to school….”

Adult Students are invited to attend. Breakfast and lunch are included. Registration is required, call 443-412-2140 or register online at www.harford.edu/collegelife/orientation.

Our Our goal is to make all materials and services accessible. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate, please contact College Life at 443-412-2373 at least ten calendar days in advance.